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Qualifying as a Coach

Qualifying as a Coach

Our coaching qualifications provide a key pillar of our support and development opportunities for coaches. Completion of each of the courses outlined below leads to a recognised coaching qualification.

To help clubs work enable volunteers to people to identify the correct qualification for them and tell them about courses in your area promotional materials including posters and leaflets giving information on qualifications are available at www.englandathletics.org/coursepromotion

Finding and booking on to a course:

You can find your nearest course at www.englandathletics.org/courses. You can then book on the course you want to attend. Leadership in Running Fitness and Coaching Assistant courses operate online booking

Athletics Coaching and Leadership Courses

LIRF: Leadership In Running Fitness

Who should go on this course?
Anyone who is 18 years and above and has an interest in running for fitness and would like to lead a group, then this is the course for you.

How many days will it take?
One day, with no assessment.

What will I learn?
The course will focus on the safe organisation of achievable and progressive running activity and how to lead a group of runners of varying ability.
Topics covered include: The barriers that stop people from taking up running, and how a leader can make a difference for them. How to plan sessions and deliver a safe and fun warm up and a cool down. Demonstration and supervision of effective stretching. The different types of activity that can make running varied and enjoyable. Helping runners to set and achieve SMARTER goals

What will I be able to do?
The course is designed to prepare you to provide a safe and enjoyable running experience for young people over 12 years of age and adults of any ability, size or shape. You may lead a group for your club and register with RunTogether to deliver to new runners. Your qualification will provide you with insurance to lead a group within the limits of the course content. Leadership in Running Fitness will be accepted as a prerequisite course for the Coach in Running Fitness qualification.

To download a leaflet please click on the image to the right.

CIRF: Coach In Running Fitness

Who should go on this course?
Coaches who are 18 or over and primarily working with runners up to and including event group development stage. Applicants must be active leaders or coaches who have completed as a minimum a Level 1, Fitness in Running & Walking, LiRF or Coaching Assistant qualifications. CiRF has a broad application to non track based endurance running rather than specific events or distances. It is not designed for coaches working primarily with track-based runners.

How many days will it take?
There are four contact days, but the course should be viewed as a development programme and you will be required to engage in pre-course work, supported practice and assessment preparation as well.

What will I learn?
How to apply the fundamental principles of running over a series of sessions to help technically develop groups of athletes and how to coach endurance running on a variety of surfaces. Topics covered include: Fundamental running skills and drills. Skill development. Energy systems and endurance running. Physical preparation & Nutrition. Injury prevention and management. Flexibility. Understanding of planning and delivery. The core coaching skills. Integrated Coaching. Athlete Development & Profiling.

What will I be able to do?
Plan a progressive training programme to help runners towards their specific goals. When qualified you will be insured to coach without supervision, working with support from Coaching Assistants and Leaders in Running Fitness.

To download a leaflet please click on the image to the right.

Leading Athletics

Who is it for?
Leading Athletics is a leadership workshop for those aged 14 years and above looking to lead athletics activities for young athletes. Packed full of useful tips and ideas, this three hour workshop is supported by a Workbook, Support Resource and a series of Game Cards which aid delivery. All content comes in an interactive App (the resource is also available in book format if required).

The Resources
Supported by a series of interactive resources, Leading Athletics is perfect for anyone wishing to lead an athletics session. A must for those new to the sport, the resources include information on the roles and responsibilities of a leader, how to lead a fun and inclusive athletics session, and further information on how to develop your leadership skills. Crammed with ‘Top Tips’ for effective delivery, the Support Resource also explores the key principles of running, jumping and throwing events whilst providing technical information which support these principles.

The Game Cards
The progressive Game Cards included in the full support resource demonstrate how to set up fun and engaging activates all designed to help introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of running, jumping and throwing.

The App
The Leading Athletics App complements the Leading Athletics Workshop and allows users to interactively deliver activities and seamlessly link to other support resources.

To download a leaflet please click on the image to the right.

Coaching Assistant

Who should go on this course?
Anyone aged 16 or over, who is interested in taking the first step into a coaching pathway and wants to understand the fundamental technical principles of coaching.

How many days will it take?
Two days (normally delivered over the course of one weekend) with no assessment.

What will I learn?
The technical coaching knowledge to underpin running, jumping and throwing activities. You’ll then learn how to apply these principles into a number of fun and exciting practical examples.
Topics covered include: Understanding fundamental movement skills, introduction to Athletics 365, delivering warm up and cool downs, coaching through fun, safe and enjoyable games, delivering speed work and endurance based activities, understanding the mechanics of jumping and throwing and the principles of session planning.

What will I be able to do?
By attending the Coaching Assistant course, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to deliver effective and engaging club sessions using task cards and session plans. Coaching Assistants will be insured to assist in the delivery of all aspects of a session whilst being supervised by a qualified Coach at the same venue.

To download a leaflet please click on the image to the right.

Athletics Coach

Who should go on this course?
Anyone who has completed the Coaching Assistant or Level 1 Assistant Coach and feels ready to take the next step to managing their own coaching groups. Currently qualified UKA Coaches looking to broaden their technical skills can also choose to attend as part of their continued education.

How many days will it take?
There are four contact days, but the course should be viewed as a development programme and you will be required to engage in pre-course work, supported practice and assessment preparation as well.

What will I learn?
How to apply the fundamental principles of running, jumping and throwing and applying this knowledge over a series of sessions to help technically develop groups of athletes. You will learn how to coach running, jumping and throwing activities and observe correct technical aspects.

What will I be able to do?
Plan a progressive training programme for athletes, coaching a range of activities to prepare the developing athlete to run, jump and throw. When qualified you will be insured to coach without supervision, working with Coaching Assistants and Athletics Leaders to support you in delivering the sessions.

To download a leaflet please click on the image to the right.

Athletics Coach Add on modules

Qualified Athletics Coach and Level 2 (or higher) coaches are given access to the online Athletics Coach Add on Modules are offered as an online learning resource so that eligible coaches can progress their own development.

The Athletics Coach Add on Modules cover Triple Jump, Pole Vault, Hammer, Discus, Race Walking and Wheel Chair Racing. These modules are currently available free of charge. Pole Vault, hammer and discus will also require a practical assessment.

Event Group Coach

The Event Group Coach (EGC) programme is designed to provide licenced athletics coaches with a greater understanding and awareness of the issues involved with coaching athletes at the Event Group Development stage of the athlete development pathway. This course can only be taken by coaches who already hold an Athletics Coach Awards or are already qualified at Level 2 or above under the old UKA 'Levels' system, and are licensed to coach without supervision.

The Event Group Coach qualifications comprise mostly of online learning, with a single integration day to complete the qualification.